My Darling Ivy

Meet The Hair Care Dream Team

By Ann Grenier

Tearing hair out over botched home cuts and dye jobs? Dreaming about the day when you can go back to the salon? Worry no more. My Darling Ivy, the hotter-than-tongs Chelsea salon owned by Manny Rolon, Mark Bustos, and VJ Moscaritola, is again open for business

“The days of talking to yourself in the mirror as if you are your own client, while you attempt to color or cut your hair, are safely at an end,” says VJ. The truth is, explains Manny, New York City’s stylist du jour, “Women are thirsting for a return to glamour, but after months of being cooped up inside, they’re seeking a new elegance—unstudied and unfussy, but always effortlessly chic.”

A lot of effort goes into looking effortless. Whether it’s correcting the self-inflicted wounds of quarantine or adding life and luster to dull hair, landing on a new everyday look, or choosing a style for a special event, Manny and his team go over every detail with a fine toothcomb.

THE ESSENCE OF TIME
According to Manny, who was caught off-guard these past months, his clients want to look great and want to be better informed. This is for Manny, who hails from three generations of hairdressers, and is an educator for the revered Oribe brand, and is a fountain of hair knowledge as are his team of star stylists.

It’s not just the who are treading a path to My Darling Ivy. “Male clients have learned to deal with the awkward grown-out phase through the stay-at-home months,” says Mark. “And sometimes a good reshaping is all it takes to convince them they can pull off more than one look.”

Although the layout and design of My Darling Ivy already allows for over six feet of separation between styling chairs, to further adhere to social distancing measures, the salon will expand its business hours to allow for a lower occupancy level throughout the day/week. “More than ever, as hairdressers and salon owners, we realize how important our roles are in people’s lives,” says Mark. “We are going above and beyond to keep everyone comfortable, safe, healthy, and feeling more beautiful again.”

Adds VJ: “At My Darling Ivy and Silver Vine Room” [their New Jersey salon], “we think it’s key to spend extra time with guests, not only to focus on their look but also conversing with them about their experiences during these unprecedented times. It’s has been a time of much solitude and having the time to sit and catch up is as important as hair care itself!”

For more information on My Darling Ivy, visit mydarlingivy.com.